Toilet cleaning system and a method thereof

ABSTRACT

It is disclosed a system for dispensing a cleaning fluid into a toilet bowl adapted to receive a flushing liquid from a tank. The system includes a cleaning fluid container positioned outside the tank and a valve controlling fluid passage from the container into a flushing liquid filling the tank at a varying level. The valve has a closed state and an open state blocking and enabling, respectively, fluid passage thereof. The valve switches between the states by the varying level. A conduit communicates the container with the valve, receives the cleaning fluid from the container, and releases it to the flushing liquid through the valve. A bottle base is attached to the tank for receiving a mouth end of a dispenser bottle. The dispenser bottle has a diaphragm for sealing the dispenser bottle and a punching pin punches the diaphragm while the dispenser bottle is brought into the bottle base. Thus, the pin enables a flow of a cleaning fluid out of the dispenser bottle. The valve is controlled by a float through a lever. Alternatively, the slide valve is actuated directly by the float.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is toilet cleaning by dispensing liquidcleaner/deodorizers into the toilet bowl. In special, the presentinvention deals with a dispensing system having a dispenser containeroutside a flushing water tank, whereas the cleaning agent or material isfirst dispensed in the tank.

2. Description of Related Art

Toilets need ongoing maintenance to remove unsightly rings and mineraldeposits created in the bowl. In addition, unpleasant odors aregenerated by toilet use. Solid block cleaners are hanged on the bowl rimfor releasing some cleaning material every time the toilet is used.However, solid block cleaners have several drawbacks. They have noadequate control that every bowl has the same amount of cleaner. Also,they require contact with the cleaning material.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is disclosed according to preferred embodiments of the presentinvention a system for dispensing a cleaning fluid into a toilet bowladapted to receive a flushing liquid from a tank. The system includes acleaning fluid container positioned outside the tank and communicatingwith the tank, and a valve controlling fluid passage from the containerinto a flushing liquid filling the tank at a varying level. The valvehas a closed state blocking fluid passage thereof, and an open stateenabling fluid passage thereof. The valve switches between the closedand open states in accordance with the varying level.

In some embodiments, a conduit communicates the container with thevalve, receives the cleaning fluid from the container, and releases thecleaning fluid to the flushing liquid through the valve.

In some embodiments, a bottle base is attached to the tank for receivinga mouth end of a dispenser bottle or container while supporting a bodythereof. Preferably, the dispenser bottle has a diaphragm for sealingthe dispenser bottle and the system includes a punching pin for punchingthe diaphragm while the dispenser bottle is brought into the bottlebase. Thus, the pin enables a flow of a cleaning fluid out of thedispenser bottle.

In some embodiments, the valve is controlled by a float connected to thevalve.

Preferably, means are used for tuning an extent of opening of the valvein the open state. Preferably, a lever enables control of the valve bythe float. Most preferably, a slide valve is operated by the lever.Alternatively, the slide valve is actuated directly by the float.

In some embodiments, the container contains a cleaning liquid or agranular cleaning fluid.

In some embodiments, a water supply line that provides flushing water tothe tank affects dispensing of the cleaning fluid only by affecting thelevel of flushing liquid in the tank.

It is disclosed according to preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, a method for dispensing a cleaning fluid into a toilet bowladapted to receive a flushing liquid from a tank. The method includesplacing outside the tank a cleaning fluid container communicating withthe tank, and installing a valve having a closed state blocking fluidpassage from the container into a flushing liquid filling the tank at avarying level and an open state enabling fluid passage thereof. Thevalve switches between the closed and open states in accordance with thevarying level of flushing liquid in the tank. Thus, actions affectingthe varying level control the fluid passage thereof.

In some embodiments, the method includes installing a conduitcommunicating the container with the valve, receiving by the conduit ofthe cleaning fluid from the container, and releasing the cleaning fluidby the conduit of through the valve to the flushing liquid.

In some embodiments, the method includes attaching a bottle base to thetank for receiving a mouth end of a dispenser bottle while supporting abody thereof. Preferably, the dispenser bottle has a diaphragm forsealing the dispenser bottle. The pin punches the diaphragm while thedispenser bottle is brought into the bottle base. Thus, a cleaning fluidis poured out of the dispenser bottle.

In some embodiments, the method includes tuning an extent of opening ofthe valve in the open state.

In some embodiments, the valve is controlled by a float connected to thevalve. Preferably, the float controls the valve by a lever connectedthereof.

In some embodiments, a water supply line provides flushing water to thetank, and it affects dispensing of the cleaning fluid only by affectingthe varying level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, however, both as to system organization and method ofoperation, together with features and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when readwith the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for dispensing a cleaningfluid into a tank feeding a toilet bowl by a flushing liquid with avalve of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 a shows a dispenser bottle brought into a bottle base.

FIG. 2 b shows the dispenser bottle after being punched by a punchingpin.

FIG. 3 a depicts a slide valve actuated by a lever connected to a floatin a close state.

FIG. 3 b depicts the slide valve of FIG. 3 a in an open state.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for dispensing a cleaningfluid into a tank having a valve of a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for dispensing cleaning fluid into atoilet bowl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described in terms of specific exampleembodiments. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe example embodiments disclosed. It should also be understood that notevery feature of the methods and systems handling the described deviceis necessary to implement the invention as claimed in any particular oneof the appended claims. Various elements and features of devices aredescribed to fully enable the invention.

Before explaining several embodiments of the invention in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. The systems, methods, andexamples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to belimiting.

In the description and claims of the present application, each of theverbs “comprise”, “include” and “have”, and conjugates thereof, are usedto indicate that the object or objects of the verb are not necessarily acomplete listing of members, components, elements or parts of thesubject or subjects of the verb.

FIG. 1 depicts a system 100 for dispensing a cleaning fluid into atoilet bowl (not shown) adapted to receive a flushing liquid from a tank105. A cleaning fluid container 110 is positioned outside tank 105, andcommunicates with tank 105 by a conduit 120. A valve 115 controls fluidpassage from container 110 into a flushing liquid filling tank 105. Inoperation, valve 115 is initially closed and cleaning fluid or liquidfrom container 110 fills conduit 120, which is shown large relative tocontainer 110, but actually has much less volume than container 110.After using the toilet, a user causes decrease of the level of water intank 105, as further detailed below, and consequently valve 115 opensand releases cleaning fluid to the flushing liquid in tank 105. As awater supply line fills out tank 105, the water level increases, valve115 closes and further cleaning fluid is collected in conduit 120, forthe next use of the toilet.

A bottle base 125 is attached to tank 105 for receiving a mouth end 205of a container or dispenser bottle 110 while supporting a body 210 ofbottle 110, as shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 b. Dispenser bottle 110 has adiaphragm 215 for sealing the cleaning fluid inside bottle 110. Apunching pin 220 punches diaphragm 215 while bottle 110 is brought intobottle base 125. FIG. 2 b shows bottle 110 resting upon a circularshoulder 225 and diaphragm torn(not shown) such that cleaning fluid ispouring out of dispenser bottle 110 into conduit 120.

Inside tank 105, conduit 120 is closed by valve 115. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3 b, valve 115 is connected by a lever 305 to a float 310, whichvertical position is determined by a level 315 of the flushing liquid orwater in tank 105. In FIG. 3 a, level 315 is high before the toilet isused and lever 305 couples the surface of valve 115 to a sealing ring320 such as to block leaking of the cleaning fluid from conduit 120 tothe flushing eater. In contrast to that close state, FIG. 3 b manifestsan open valve state obtained by lowering level 305 after the toilet isused. As a result of that lowering, lever 305 displaces valve 115 awayfrom sealing ring 320 such as to allow passage of the cleaning fluidfrom conduit 120 into the flushing liquid.

Lever 305 is connected to float 310 by a long screw 325 threaded intofloat 310. Turning a head 330 of screw 325 tunes the extent of openingof valve 115 in the open state. The combination of a well defined volumefor receiving cleaning fluid in conduit 120 and the possibility torotate screw 325 provides repeatability and control of the amount ofcleaning fluid released to the flushing liquid each time that valve 115opens.

It is noted that a water supply line 335, that provides flushing waterto the tank, affects dispensing of the cleaning fluid only by affectinglevel 315 of flushing liquid in the tank.

Alternative float-valve sub-system is shown in FIG. 4. Conduit 405connects container 110 with a slide valve 415, which in turn is coupledto a float 420. Valve 415 and float 420 encircle conduit 405, but arefree to move in the vertical direction. In the open state of FIG. 4,float 420 is low as is water level 315 (as shown in FIG. 3 b). As aresult, slide valve 415 is in a low position whereas surface 425 is notcoupled to a sealing ring 430, and the cleaning fluid exits conduit 405into the flushing liquid. In contrast, whenever water level 305alleviates (as in FIG. 3 a), float 420 moves upwardly together withvalve 415, and consequently surface 415 approaches sealing ring 430 andprevents leaking of the cleaning liquid out of conduit 405.

Referring now to method 500 of FIG. 5, it should be understood that thesteps of method 500 may be performed in any order or simultaneously,unless it is clear from the context that one step depends on anotherbeing performed first.

The flow chart of FIG. 5 presents a method 500 for dispensing a cleaningfluid into a toilet bowl adapted to receive a flushing liquid from atank 105. Method 500 includes a step 505 of attaching a bottle base 125to the tank for receiving a mouth end 205 of a dispenser bottle 110while supporting a body thereof. Dispenser bottle 110 has a diaphragm215 for sealing dispenser bottle 110. In a step 510, dispenser bottle110 is brought into the bottle base, and consequently in step 515, a pin220 punches diaphragm 215.

Method 500 includes a step 520 of installing a conduit 120 whichcommunicates bottle 110 with a valve 115, a step 525 of bottle 110pouring a cleaning fluid, and a step 530 of conduit 120 receiving thepoured cleaning fluid.

Method 500 further includes a step 535 of installing a valve 115 havinga closed state blocking fluid passage from container 110 into a flushingliquid filling tank 105 at a varying level 315, and an open stateenabling fluid passage thereof.

Method 500 also includes a step 540 of tuning the extent of opening ofvalve 115 in the open state. Valve 115 switches between the closed andopen states in accordance with varying level 315 of flushing liquid inthe tank, as sensed by a float 310 or a float 415. Thus, method 500includes a step 545 of controlling valve 115 by float 310 or 415. Thus,actions affecting varying level 315 control the passage of the cleaningfluid between conduit 120 and the flushing liquid in tank 105. Such anaction is pressing an appropriate button for flushing the toilet bowlafter its use.

Method 500 further includes a step 550 of a lever enabling control ofvalve 115 by float 310, and a step 555 of conduit 120 releasing thecleaning fluid to the flushing liquid.

A water supply line 335 provides flushing water to the tank. Method 500also include the negative step 560 that line 335 does not affectdispensing of the cleaning fluid directly, as it affects the dispensingonly indirectly by affecting varying level 315.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims. In particular, the present invention is notlimited in any way by the examples described.

1. A system for dispensing a cleaning fluid into a toilet bowl adaptedto receive a flushing liquid from a tank, the system comprising: (a) acleaning fluid container positioned outside the tank and communicatingwith said tank; (b) a valve controlling fluid passage from saidcontainer into a flushing liquid filling said tank at a varying level,said valve having a closed state blocking fluid passage thereof, and anopen state enabling fluid passage thereof; and (c) said valve switchingbetween the closed and open states in accordance with said varyinglevel.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes aconduit adapted for: (i) communicating said container with said valve;(ii) receiving a certain amount of said cleaning fluid from saidcontainer; and (iii) releasing at least a portion of said amount of saidcleaning fluid through said valve to said flushing liquid.
 3. The systemof claim 1, wherein the system further includes: (A) a bottle baseattached to said tank for receiving a mouth end of a dispenser bottlewhile supporting a body thereof.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein saiddispenser bottle has a diaphragm for sealing said dispenser bottle andsaid bottle base further includes: (B) a punching pin for punching saiddiaphragm while said dispenser bottle is brought into said bottle base,thereby enabling a flow of a cleaning fluid out of said dispenserbottle.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said valve is controlled by aconnected float.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system furtherincludes means for tuning an extent of opening of said valve in saidopen state.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein a lever connects saidvalve to said float.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the systemincludes a slide valve operated by said lever.
 9. The system of claim 5wherein the system includes a slide valve actuated directly by saidfloat.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said container contains acleaning liquid or a granular cleaning fluid.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein a water supply line providing flushing water to said tankaffects dispensing of said cleaning fluid only by affecting said levelof flushing liquid in said tank.
 12. A method for dispensing a cleaningfluid into a toilet bowl adapted to receive a flushing liquid from atank, the method comprising: (a) placing outside the tank a cleaningfluid container communicating with said tank; (b) installing a valvehaving a closed state blocking fluid passage from said container into aflushing liquid filling said tank at a varying level and an open stateenabling fluid passage thereof, said valve being adapted to switchbetween the closed and open states in accordance with said varying levelof flushing liquid in said tank, thereby enabling control of fluidpassage thereof by actions affecting said varying level.
 13. The methodof claim 12, wherein the method includes: (i) installing a conduitcommunicating said container with said valve; (ii) said conduitreceiving a certain amount of said cleaning fluid from said container;and (iii) said conduit releasing at least a portion of said amount ofsaid cleaning fluid through said valve to said flushing liquid.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the method further includes: (A) attaching abottle base to said tank for receiving a mouth end of a dispenser bottlewhile supporting a body thereof.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinsaid dispenser bottle has a diaphragm for sealing said dispenser bottleand the method further includes: (B) punching said diaphragm while saiddispenser bottle is brought into said bottle base; and (C) saiddispenser bottle pouring a cleaning fluid out of said dispenser bottle.16. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further includes tuningan extent of opening of said valve in said open state.
 17. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the method includes controlling said valve by a floatconnected to said valve.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a leverconnects said float with said valve and the method includes said leverenabling control of said valve by said float.
 19. The method of claim12, wherein the method includes a step of a water supply line affectingdispensing of said cleaning fluid only by affecting said varying level,wherein said water supply line providing flushing water to said tank.